Box machine



Aug. 29, 1933. T A E'DERWIT 1,924,681

BOX MACHINE Filed March 6, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N VEN TOR.

' mild 1% 65M 2 ATTORNEY.

Aug. 29, 1933. T. A, FEDERWITZ BOX MACHINE Filed March 6, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 29; 1933.

T. A. FEDERWITZ BOX MACHINE iled March 6, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 29, 1933. -r. A. FEDERWITZ BOX MACHINE Filed March 6, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

W ATTORNEY.

fl- 9, 1933. 'r. A. FEDERWITZ 1,924,681

BOX MACHINE Filed March 6, 1931 5 Sheets+Sheet 5 U1] a. IZVENTUR.

= ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 29, 1933- l umrso srAT si o l-mmyomoe 1,924,681 v '5 "BOX MACHlNE 1 n I 'Theodore A. Fedei'witz, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Stokes and Smith Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 6,. 1931Qs riaIfNo. 522,739

' 15 Claims. (o1. 93-54) My invention relates-to machines-for forming and/or wrapping boxes, and particularly boxes of great depth. I

In general, y invention relates to improvements in the box machine disclosed in U. S. Let: ters Patent 1,541,036 to myself and another, which permit it to be fused in wrapping large boxes, and particularly deep boxes, which, were previously wrapped only by hand.

l a More specifically, the operating mechanism for the form-block structure of the machine is so constructed that the great length of travel or stroke of the form block is obtained without corresponding increase in the space necessary for the machine; and preferably, theoperating mechanism is substantially wholly contained within the hollow structure or framework of the, ma-

chine; I r

Further in accordance with my invention, the mechanism for ejecting the finished: boxes is-adjustable independently of 'the box-forming or wrapping instrumentalities to permit of great accuracy of timing of its action. A i My invention also resides in the features of construction, arrangement and combination hereinafter described and claimed; I 1

For illustration of a preferredembodimento my invention reference is to be had to the accom panying drawings in which? Fig. 1 is a front elevation with parts insection and parts brokenaway- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine of Fig;

1 with parts in section and parts. omitted.

Fig; 3' is a detail view onenlargedscale of plunger operating mechanism shown .in Fig.2. 6

Figs. 4 and 5 are plan-and front "elevational views respectively of the mechanism of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail view'onenlargedscale of boxejector mechanism shown in Fig. l.

operating the ejector. l

Figs. 8 and'9 are front and side elevational views on enlarged scale of box-stripping mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2.- i

Fig. 10 is a detail view in section of clamping structure for the stripper bars of Figs.,8 and 9.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the pedestal, orlbase member. 1 supports the main frame member 2 of the machine which has a flat table portion 3.and a hollow goose neck column or standard 4. The main operating cam 5 of the machine is disposed within the hollow portion of the frame member 2 beneath its table surface 3, and is clamped or held, as by bolts 6, to thegworm gear member '7 disposed within the hollow base orpedestal member 1'. The worm gearand cam assembly rests Fig. '7 is a detail'view of cam'm'echanism'for 1 upon a bearing 8 engaging the upper' surface of the lower flange portion of=a hollow member 9 secured to the base, as by bolts 10, and extending through the cam assembly and upwardly beyond the top of the. table ,3. The cam-assembly is driven through. the Worm gear 7 by a worm, not

againstthe upper surface of table 3. Withthe V v 4 bolts 16 unloosenedthe slide units may bemoved toward and away from each other by rotating the cranks 17 mounted on shafts 18 threadedly en gaging thedep'ending-slide portions 19. Within;

each of the slide units, a gear: 20 slidably'keyed to theshaft 2l upon which agear 14 is secured,

drives, a.; cam 22 for "operating. the several: box forming or wrapp'ingtools, asthe presser blocks 23, marginal turn-in fingers 24, turn inlingers 25, etc. As the top of the table 3 is substantially flushzwithfthebot tom of the slide units, these box forming and wrappingtools are very 'acc essible for adjustment" or replacement in setting' up or changing over the machine for operation upon difierentsizes o fa boxes. v 1 Upon one end of lever 26, which, is disposed wholly within the "hollow frame 2, is n' ounted. a

can follower 27 engaging the lower groove ofthe main cam5. Thelower end oflinkZiQWhichis entirely contained within the vertical or upright portion of=the hollow member 4, is connected to the. other end of the lever 26 for transmitting movement tolever 29 enclosed by-andjournaled ,in, asf at 30, the horizontally extending top por v tion 31 of the goose neck frame. Integral with or preferably secured to the other arm oi the ,lever' isa gear segment 32, meshing with pinion 33.

rotatable withbevel gear 34 upon a stud shaft 35,".

as most clearly shown, in Figs. 3 and 4. To one end of theshaft 36 issecured the bevel gear 37 for driving. .the gear 38which passes througha slot in the outer-plunger 46into meshv with .the rack portion 39 of the inner plunger 4 0. -This gear train steps up 'or multiplies the relatively small movement ofthe gear segment to eifect a long stroke, for example, about 23inch es, of the form-block F, which sufficient for boxes of depth up to five inches; v

r-The other end of shaft 36;is enlarged "re cessed to receive the thr u st bearing 41 which is engaged by the adjusting bolt j42. V 'g Theguidingmember or roller 43 which engages the slot 44 in the hollow cylindrical member 45 extending vertically at the end of the goose neck member 31, is connected to the inner plunger 40 to prevent any tendency to rotate which would upset the registering relation between the form oblockstructure F and the wrapper applying or box-forming instrumentalities of the slides 15.

The outer plunger 46 is similarly driven from the upper groove of the main-operating cam with which engages a cam roller 2'7 at one end of a' The length engages the groove or slot 48 of the vertical cylindrical member 45.

In the construction described, all of the operating mechanism for the inner and outer plungers is completely enclosed, greatly improving the appearance of the machine, decreasing the likelihood of wear and damage, and decreasing the liability of injury to thoseoperating or adjusting the machine. Further, although the machine is constructed to accommodate boxes of substantially greater depth than those heretofore used,

with'resultant need of a substantially greater path of movement of the form-block structurathe opcrating mechanism described for the form-block housing.

operating plungers obtains the greatly increased operating stroke of the operating plungers without substantial increase in'the vertical height of the machine.-

" Particularly in the forming and/0r wrapping of deep'boxes, the timing of the ejector for-pro pelling the finished box from the machine is important. When the machine is operating at high speed, the interval for removing the box is very short both in point of time and in respect to the operating cycle. The ejectors previously used were notsatisfactory. Referring to Figs. '1, 6 and '7, the housing of one of the slide units is provided with an extending portion 49 forenclosing an ad ditional cam 50 which is rotatable with cam 22, though the relative angular positions of the cams may be varied to time the ejector by loosening nut 51 at the .end of'the cam shaft and rotating cam forming a shoulder engagingone end of a spring 58 whose other end abuts a shoulder 59 on the ejectorrod 60'which'passes through the cylindrical member 56 andoutwardly from the ejector The'initial movement of lever 54 in counter clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig, 6, compresses the spring 58. Movement of the ejector rod 60 is preventedby the locking members or balls 61which are wedged'between the inclined .shoulder 62 of the ejector rod and the inside diameter' of the cylindrical member 63. Upon lever is swung in a reverse direction, the buffer Any tendency of the outer plunger to rotate is prevented by the guide roller 4'7 which occur precisely at the desired point in; the operati-ng cycle of the machine. 1

deep. Further the range of which may be formed or wrapped is increased, for

the large inside diameter of member 63 comes opposite the locking balls 61, whereupon thespring 58 forces the ball upwardly and forcibly propels the ejector rod 60 forcibly to shove a finished box resting upon the lower form-block structure F onto the discharge chute-64, preferably mounted upon and adjustable with the opposite slide unit 15.

7 Upon continued rotation of the cam. 50, the

block 65 at the end of the cylinder 56 engaging the plate or shoulder 66 at the end of the ejector rod to move it to its original position. The member 63 in moving toits original position under the influence of spring 6'7, returns the locking members or balls 61 to the position indicated in Fig. 6, completing the cycle of operation of the ejector. The spring 68, whose biasing eifect upon the lever 54'is adjustable by nut 69, maintains the cam follower in engagement with one side of the cam groove.

By the construction describedythe action of the ejector is 'very rapid-and by provision of the adjustable cam 50,- can be accurately timed to The outer cylinder 46 in accordance with its known operation, moves downwardly with'respect to the inner cylinder to bring the stripper members '70 into position to engage the'bottom of the finished box and thus strip it from the form block structure F. In my improved construction shown, the oppositely extending arms '71 of member '72.-at the lower end of the outer plunger-46 are of inverted T cross-section. Each of the arms slidably receives a stirrup member 73 through which pass on opposite sides of the arm, the clamping members '74. Each'ofthe' clamping memrers is provided with a head .75 having a hole therethrough which is preferably other than round to receive the horizontal portion of the stripper supporting member '76. The vertical or bent portion of each member or bar '76 is threaded to permit adjustment of a tubular mem; ber 7'7, which contains a spring pressing against the head '78 of the stripper pin '79, adapted'to project into the opening 80 of the form block.

Each of the recesses 81 in the stirrups'for receiving theheads '75 is of'such'depth that when the corresponding nut 82 is tightened, the bar '76 125.

engages the bottom of the stirrup before the head '75 seats at the bottom of the recess. As the strippers are individually adjustable and each of thestripperscan be adjusted without affecting adjustment .of the associated stripper, they may be rapidly and precisely adjusted when, for example, it is desired to. change from one size box to another. Each stirrup '73 is. held in adjusted I position by clamping screw 83 (Fig. 10) or equivalent, whose adjustment does not affect the relative positions of the strippers carried by the stirrup. 1 By the improvements described, the machine is capable of forming large boxes, for example, boxes whose maximum dimensions are of the order'of two feet long, fourteen inches wide, and live inches sizes of boxes example, boxes whose minimum dimensions are depth, two and one half inches .width, and four and one-half inches long, may bemade with the same machine.

What I claim is: I 1. A box machine comprising form block strucrack portion;a cami "and" means for'transfiiitting motion from" said camfto effect reciprocation of plungerhavinga rack portion, structure carried thereby, .for strippingffinished boxes from said for'm' block structure, camstructure, and mechanisms for effecting reciprocation of said plungers in accordance with said cam structure comprising gear trains terminating in gears engaging the rack portions of said plungers.

3. A box machine comprising form block structure, concentric plungers for supporting said form-block structure and box-stripping means, both of said plungers having rack portions and the rack portion of the inner plunger opposite an elongated opening in the outer plunger, cam structure, and means for transmitting motion from said cam to effect reciprocation of said plungers comprising gear trains terminating in gears engaging the rackportions of said plungers, the gear directly engaging the rack portionof said inner plunger passing through said opening in said outer plunger.

4. A box machine comprising a hollow base member, a hollow standard extending upwardly from said base member and having a horizontally extending portion, a'reciprocating member having a rack portion andsupported from said horizontally extending portion of said standard, form block structure carried by said member, cam

structure within said hollow base member, and means for transmitting motion from said cam to said member comprising reciprocating rod structure disposed within the upwardly extending portion ofsaid standard and a gear train disposed in said horizontally extending portion and terminating in a gear engaging said rack portion of said member.

5. A box-machine comprising vertically reciprocating form-block structure, a supporting member disposed beneath the lower limit of travel ofsaid form block structure and having substantially all of its upper surface in the same horizontal plane, and a plurality of units, each comprising instrumentalities cooperating with said form-block structure during its movement, adjustably mounted on and supported by the up per flat surfaceof said member for movement toward and away from the path of movement of said form block structure with all of said instrumentalities above said surface and readily accessible for adjustment'or replacement.

6. A box-machine comprising reciprocating form-block structure, a supporting member dis-, posed beneath said form-block" structure, a plurality of units, each comprising instrumentalities i cooperating with said form-block structure during its movement, adjustable on said supporting member, toward and away from the path of with one of said units.

movement of said form-block structure, and a box-discharge chute mounted on .and movable 'I. A box-machine comprising reciprocating form-block structurega supporting member disposed-beneath saidfform-block structure, a plurality of units, each comprising instrumentalities cooperating with said form-block structure during its movement, adjustable on said supporting member, toward "and away *fr'oin the fpath or movement of said rorm-b1oer structure, a boxdischarge c ute mounted' 'on and: mova le with one of saidf units," and boxejector mechanism mounted on and movable with the unit opposite to said cheer Saidunits; 4 i

, -s'. In a ox-maehmeg movable ,form block;

structure,*"a"unit movable toward and from the path prmovemm of said "form-block structure comprising a f cam, mechanism operated thereby for cooperating with said form blockstructure', a

box-ejecting membenand 'afsecond' cam rotatable with and" angular'ly adjustable with respect to said first cam for operating said box-ejecting member. r j V 9. In abox machine, movable form block structure, ,a box ejector mechanism comprising an ejector member, a spring, an operating member movable to store energy in said. spring, and to effect release thereof for box-ejecting movement of said ejector member, a shaft rotating in timed relation to movement of said form block'struc ture, and a cam for actuating said operating member angularly adjustable on said shaft to vary the time of release of said ejector member.

and means for stripping" boxes therefrom comprising a relatively movable member, a second member movable along said first member parallel to the upper surface of said form block structure, means for adjustably clamping said second memberto said first member, and a p1u-' rality of box stripping members adjustably and independently secured to said second member independently of said clamping means and on opposite sides of said first member.

11. A box machine comprising form block structure'having independent, portions, plungers for supporting saidportions and having rack por tions, common guiding means for said plungers,

means carried by said plungers and cooperating with said guiding mea'nsto' prevent angular displacement of said form block structure, cam struc-.

ture, and means for; transmitting motion he 5 I from to effect reciprocation of said plungers comprising a gear train terminating in gears supported by said guiding means and engagingthe rack portions of said plungers; r

12. In a box machine having form-block struchire, a box ejector mechanism comprising a re-' ciprocable member, spring. means, operating structure movable to store energy insaid spring. means, a member having limited movement lon gitudinally of said reciprocating member, normally preventing movementxof said'reciprocat- 13o ing member toward thepath of said form block structure, andzengagedby said structure to re-.- lease saidrreciprocable member for actuation by said spring means.

r 13. Ina box machine having a form block, an ejector mechanism comprisinga 'reciprocable element, spring means, structure operable to tension said spring means for propelling said element to-' bers for said element'biased to releasedposition by said spring means when tensioned, retaining ward the path of said form block, locking mem- 1 means for said locking members adapted to" be engaged by said'structure, to permit said spring means to release said locking members and actui taining means'for restoring said members to lockate said element, and-biasing meansfor said reing position upon retraction of said element.

14'.'In a box machine having a form block, an

ejector mechanism-comprising a' reciprocable element having a section of reduced diameterform- 19 10; In a box machine, form block structure,

OIIJIhQld -XlgJ said, membe s a a n m ashou d lqck gmembor hb ased stmo u e saidshoulder, sprin meana. tru ture: oper e on directi n ten ons id spri m ans,;' a xe ai i ng; member or said loc i members ng edhy sa d: stru ture upon movement in said onedirection to per- *mit said spring means toforoe said loclging' membegs outof eng gement with saidshoulder, and biasing means; for said retaining member o er-v able upon retraction of saidolemontto move said locking; members to locking position and to :re--

Y tain them in said position.

' 15.;In; a box; machine having? form block, an

' liaaaiea ejecim m ha m. ompr si a fi ip ocabl el-i m at; aostat na yiul efo ui ing aid e em t.

l cking mcmbe or s id fl emnt p jectin through oaid tube, a member glidable on said. tube and adaptedftobngage" said locking members, spring means operat S ru f r tens ing said moans. and adaptd, to move said slidable 

